To what extent does the novel Oliver Twist reflect the conditions that prevailed in Victorian Society?

Oliver Twist To what extent does the novel Oliver Twist reflect the conditions that prevailed in Victorian Society? Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on the 7th February 1812, in Portsmouth and spent most of his childhood in London and Kent, both of which appear frequently in his novels. Charles Dickens was the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. John Dickens worked as a clerk at the Navy pay office in Portsmouth. Charles, the second of seven children, went to the local school. John Dickens found it difficult to provide for his growing family on his small pay. In 1822 the family moved to Camden Town in London. John Dickens' debts had become so severe that all the household goods were sold. Still unable to satisfy his creditors, John Dickens was arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison. At age twelve, Charles found work at Warren's Blacking Factory, where he was paid six shillings a week wrapping shoeblack bottles. The brief time that he worked at the Blacking Factory haunted him all of his life. In the extremely stratified English class structure, the highest social class belonged to the "old rich". These where aristocrats who did not have to work for their money, they inherited it. There were also the "noveau riche". These were people who are just as rich but they have had to actually work to become rich. The middle class was stigmatised for having to work,

  • Word count: 1369
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A Theme in Black and White.

Nan Ni Mrs. Larson Sweat Essay 6th Period A Theme in Black and White Contemporary critics advocate that stories must be complex, that shades of gray must be present in every character, every event and every action. The literature of Zora Neale Hurston does not abide by such a rule, preferring instead to make her characters wholly innocent and virtuous or blatantly wicked. In Sweat, she uses symbols, her characters' deeds, and the story's denouement to make a simple argument: Hurston proved that sooner or later, the downtrodden will rise up and overthrow their oppressors; by extension, she has demonstrated that in the timeless struggle between good and evil, good prevails in the end. Sweat's sumbolism allows Hurston to communicate her theme without compromising the story's content or adopting a didactic manner of narration. In literature, the snake has been treated as a figure for power and evil by the many writers from the authors of the Old Testement to the compliers of Greek myth. Hurston, too, has picked this conventional symbol to stand for both Sykes and evil. Delia's husband embodies an appalling evil which manifests itself in his infidelity, his physical abuse of Delia and finally, in his attempted murder. The bull whip which Sykes throws on Delia at the opening of Sweat is a a symbol of his dominance over her as well as a representation of good's submission to

  • Word count: 943
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How effectively does Dickens use language to portray the misery of orphans in the novel 'Oliver Twist'?

Name: Chirag Sabhnani Class: Sr. 4F Date: 10TH March 2003 Subject: English Language. Oliver Twist Course Work ________________________________________________________________________ Q. How effectively does Dickens use language to portray the misery of orphans in the novel 'Oliver Twist'? Ans. Orphans in the 19th century were children who have had no parents and required special effort to develop and are "left to the tender mercies of churchwardens and overseers." They were "juvenile offenders", "culprits" who were not shown any mercy. They were mistreated, abused, isolated, bullied and neglected by various sections of society. These children were "pitied by no one", "despised by all," kept "half starved" and were never respected in society. They were the victims of betrayal and disloyalty, were called "dirt of society." 'Oliver Twist' is the story of a boy who passes through many difficulties and troubles through life's journey each time becoming stronger from it. The novel fictionalizes the experience of the writer 'Charles Dickens' and reflects the social evils existing in the 19th century. In the book 'Oliver Twist' Dickens brings to life the terrible hardships faced by the orphans at that time. He shows how England's society changes from a slow paced one to a fast paced mechanized one, where the typical rule applies- the poor becoming poorer and the rich

  • Word count: 3765
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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english Olvier twist essay

Oliver Twist Dickens has a very unique style; he uses very descriptive language that contains a lot of adjectives. He also uses lists particularly when he's describing a place in the following passages the features of dickens style are evident. What impressions does the reader gain of the nineteenth century in London? Dickens knew London very well and in Oliver twist he describes the London he knew. The artful dodger takes Oliver to Fagin's den through London's streets. The reader gets the feeling of speed to show this dickens uses a list "They crossed from the angel into st Johns road; struck down the small street which terminates at saddlers welis theatre". This sounds like directions for somebody who doesn't know where they are going it creates a sense of speed. As Oliver looks around him he realises that he is in a poor, slum area dickens writes "A dirtier or more wretched place he had never seen" "And the air was impregnated with filthy odours". By writing this Dickens gives the reader a feeling of what sort of disgusting area Oliver is travelling through. The word dirtier suggests that the area looks poor and indecent. The word wretched means that even the people who live there are unhappy. The word filthy gives an impression of a smelly odour. Dickens also appeals to not just to the sense of sight but to the sense of

  • Word count: 751
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comment upon how each of the writers of the three stories develops tension in the opening section (first 1 and-a-half pages) of their narrative.

Comment upon how each of the writers of the three stories develops tension in the opening section (first 1 and-a-half pages) of their narrative. The "Black Cottage" was written in 1859 by Wilkie Collins and is a typical example of Victorian melodrama. The story is narrated by a young girl named Bessie as she faces responsibility, insecurity and eventual success. Strong tension is developed from very early on in this story. With no mother and the rest of her family working away, the young girl is physically and emotionally isolated, creating many potential dangers. Adding to the tension and this sense of isolation is the location of the Black Cottage; it is situated in the heart of a moor in the West of England with no neighbours. Bessie does have some companionship, she knows Mrs. Knifton, and described as her "foster sister" she is a recently married friend of her mother's. Despite this, the reader's curiosity is occupied and immediate questions are raised as she speaks about the friendship and kindness, "I shall remember gratefully to the last day of my life." Many pieces of extremely effective tension are created here. The name of the cottage is obvious because of the outside exterior decoration and can be established as a symbolic dimension. Black is highly associated with evil and the reader is given a clear impression that something bad will happen there, creating a

  • Word count: 1434
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does Dickens represent crime and criminals in Oliver Twist

How does Dickens present crime and criminals in 'Oliver Twist'? In the book Oliver Twist Charles Dickens was trying to portray that the Victorian viewpoint of crime was wrong. He designed his novel to show that some criminals are drawn or forced into crime rather than being born a criminal. He highlights the workhouses bought about in 1834 as a result of the poor law. Dickens includes the condition of the workhouses which were very basic and the work was hard and unforgiving, he described this to set the scene of how young children coped when they were alone in the world. He presents some criminals as innocent victims that have been pulled into a life of crime through desperation and despair such as Oliver and Nancy, however some criminals such as Sikes have not been drawn into crime, they rather chose the life of crime that they live. Prostitution also portrayed as 'dirty and corrupted' from the Victorian view however Dickens tried hard to show prostitutes as victim. Through writing Oliver Twist Dickens highlighted fundamental issues that were wrong with the Victorian society and made a stand against the stereotypes of the poor. Oliver, who was orphaned at birth and left in a workhouse is the main character in the story; he is depicted as a naïve young boy who is drawn into crime through desperation and a lack of knowledge of the London streets. Dickens depicts Oliver as a

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How is the character of Fagin presented in chapters 16 and 35 of Oliver Twist?

How is the character of Fagin presented in chapters 16 and 35 of Oliver Twist? In Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens' main bad character is Fagin. Fagin lives in the back streets of London and runs an organisation whose aim is to rob people. Fagin first appears when the Artful Dodger takes Oliver Twist to stay with them. Oliver had been sleeping on the streets of London when the Artful Dodger found him. Artful Dodger took Oliver to stay with Fagin and Charley Bates. When Oliver goes back to Fagin's home, Fagin tells the Dodger to make a bath for Oliver. Throughout the novel, Charles Dickens refers to Fagin as "Jew" or "The Jew." In the 1800's anti-Semitism was rife. Fagin is included in Oliver Twist to show Charles Dickens' opinion of what the Jews were like in the 1800's and so that Charles Dickens could try to tell his readers what life was like from the view of a low-life common thief - the Jew - Fagin. Chapter 16 starts by setting the scene for the reader. "Chill, damp, windy night." This description gives the idea of a dark night and this immediately gives the impression that the person out on this dark night is likely to be a dark person. Fagin's actions are then described, all actions which can be conceived as those of somebody who has something to hide. "The Jew, buttoning his great-coat tight round his shrivelled body, pulling the collar up over his ears so as

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How Does Charles Dickens Expose Victorian Society's Awful Treatment of Children of the Poor

How Does Charles Dickens Expose Victorian Society's Awful Treatment of Children of the Poor? 'Oliver Twist' is set in Victorian England at a time when the industrial revolution was happening. Businesses were getting bigger and factories were being built by machines. Poor people from the countryside moved into the cities to get jobs for money. However, the people who owned the factories didn't care about the welfare of their workers, as long as they turned up to work. They paid them hardly any money because they wanted money for themselves. This made a lot of people go into poverty. The Poor Law of 1834 was a piece of government legislation that said that poor people could only get help if they went into work houses, where they had to work for extremely long hours for no money and had hardly any food. There was no heating and many people died of diseases and being unhealthy. The authorities made the workhouses like this because they based them on the principle that the people were only poor because they were lazy, and the conditions would teach them a lesson and make them get out of poverty. However, because of the Industrial Revolution this was often impossible, and the workhouses offered no assistance for social or economic betterment. Oliver Twist was born into a workhouse after his mother was found on the street and brought in. He was delivered by the parish surgeon who

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Oliver Twist Nancy Diary Entries

DIARY ENTRY'S Diary Entry One: It was just another quit and cold night. We were all having a party and for some reason I had a feeling that something was going to happen tonight. The next thing I know is Jack and Charlie bring home a young frail looking boy, he was scruffy and short but he seemed nice and sweet. His name according to himself was none other then Oliver. Oliver looked astonished and frightened, but he was welcomed by my long-term friends, Fagin and Bill. Oliver was confused and had no idea what was happening. I knew it, that moment when I saw the spark in Fagin's eye; he was trying to teach Oliver (a young innocent boy) how to steal. My maternal instincts told me that he was a special lad who did not belong in the company of Fagin's type. This I did not want for the poor little child and I decided to look after him when he was staying with us. Dairy Entry Two: I was up and awake, I could not sleep, I had a strange feeling which was surrounding me. I was drunk and tired, but I could not sleep, I knew that something was bothering me. Since Oliver had arrived, I have had a change of heart; I knew that Oliver should not join us criminals. I had a strange feeling and that feeling was telling me to look after and care for Oliver. I had a sense of hatred, telling me that Oliver did not like me, but that did not affect me caring and looking after him. He

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How Does the Characterisation of those who Interact with Oliver Affect the Readers Sympathy for him?

How Does the Characterisation of those who Interact with Oliver Affect the Readers Sympathy for him? I think that the aim of Charles Dickens writing a novel about a poor character like Oliver Twist was to make a point about the people living in the Victorian times, about the rich and how they treated the poor. Dickens wanted the reader to feel sympathy for Oliver and for others that were in his position because of the way they were treated. During the Victorian period poor people were treated as if they didn't matter. The Poor Laws punished the most defenseless and helpless members of the lower class. The old, the sick, and the very young suffered more than the fit and healthy benefited from these laws. Dickens was trying to demonstrate this conflict through the character of Oliver Twist. His story demonstrates the double standards of the middle-class bureaucrats, who treat a small child cruelly while voicing their belief in the Christian virtue of giving charity to the less fortunate. During the Poor Laws workhouses were built by parishes to look after the poor; people who had no money or couldn't work were sent to live in the workhouses, they had to work very long hours, and it was hard to get out again. Families were split up and hardly ever allowed to see each other. From the day that he was born, Oliver Twist has been treated badly by almost everyone in his life. He

  • Word count: 1128
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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